Brent M. Segal, Woburn US

Brent M. Segal, Woburn, MA US

Patent application number

Description

Published

20080224126

Spin-coatable liquid for formation of high purity nanotube films - Certain spin-coatable liquids and application techniques are described, which can be used to form nanotube films or fabrics of controlled properties. A spin-coatable liquid for formation of a nanotube film includes a liquid medium containing a controlled concentration of purified nanotubes, wherein the controlled concentration is sufficient to form a nanotube fabric or film of preselected density and uniformity, and wherein the spin-coatable liquid comprises less than 1×10

09-18-2008

20080225572

CIRCUIT ARRAYS HAVING CELLS WITH COMBINATIONS OF TRANSISTORS AND NANOTUBE SWITCHING ELEMENTS - Circuit arrays having cells with combinations of transistors and nanotube switches. Under one embodiment, cells are arranged as pairs with the nanotube switching elements of the pair being cross coupled so that the set electrode of one nanotube switching element is coupled to the release electrode of the other and the release electrode of the one nanotube switching element being coupled to the set electrode of the other. The nanotube articles are coupled to the reference line, and the source of one field effect transistor of a pair is coupled to the set electrode to one of the two nanotube switching elements and the source of the other field effect transistor of the pair is coupled to the release electrode to the one of the two nanotube switching elements.

09-18-2008

20080231413

RESISTIVE ELEMENTS USING CARBON NANOTUBES - Resistive elements include a patterned region of nanofabric having a predetermined area, where the nanofabric has a selected sheet resistance; and first and second electrical contacts contacting the patterned region of nanofabric and in spaced relation to each other. The resistance of the element between the first and second electrical contacts is determined by the selected sheet resistance of the nanofabric, the area of nanofabric, and the spaced relation of the first and second electrical contacts. The bulk resistance is tunable.

09-25-2008

20080238882

SYMMETRIC TOUCH SCREEN SYSTEM WITH CARBON NANOTUBE-BASED TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE ELECTRODE PAIRS - A symmetric touch screen switch system in which both the touch side and panelside transparent electrodes are comprised of carbon nanotube thin films is provided. The fabrication of various carbon nanotube enabled components and the assembly of a working prototype touch switch using those components is described. Various embodiments provide for a larger range of resistance and optical transparency for the both the electrodes, higher flexibility due to the excellent mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes. Certain embodiments of the symmetric, CNT-CNT touch switch achieve excellent optical transparency (<3% absorption loss due to CNT films) and a robust touch switching characteristics in an electrical test.

10-02-2008

20080280038

Methods of using thin metal layers to make carbon nanotube films, layers, fabrics, ribbons, elements and articles - Methods of using thin metal layers to make Carbon Nanotube Films, Layers, Fabrics, Ribbons, Elements and Articles are disclosed. Carbon nanotube growth catalyst is applied on to a surface of a substrate, including one or more thin layers of metal. The substrate is subjected to a chemical vapor deposition of a carbon-containing gas to grow a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes. Portions of the non-woven fabric are selectively removed according to a defined pattern to create the article. A non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes may be made by applying carbon nanotube growth catalyst on to a surface of a wafer substrate to create a dispersed monolayer of catalyst. The substrate is subjected to a chemical vapor deposition of a carbon-containing gas to grow a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes in contact and covering the surface of the wafer and in which the fabric is substantially uniform density.

11-13-2008

20080290423

NANOTUBE-BASED SWITCHING ELEMENT - Nanotube-based switching elements and logic circuits. Under one aspect, a switching element includes an input node; an output node; a nanotube channel element comprising a ribbon of nanotube fabric; and a control electrode disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to form an electrically conductive channel between the input node and the output node, wherein the electrically conductive channel at least includes the nanotube channel element. Under another aspect, a switching element includes an input node; an output node; a nanotube channel element comprising at least one electrically conductive nanotube, the nanotube being clamped at both ends by a clamping structure; and a control electrode disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to form an electrically conductive channel between the input node and the output node, wherein the electrically conductive channel at least includes the nanotube channel element.

11-27-2008

20080299307

METHODS OF MAKING CARBON NANOTUBE FILMS, LAYERS, FABRICS, RIBBONS, ELEMENTS AND ARTICLES - Methods of Making Carbon Nanotube Films, Layers, Fabrics, Ribbons, Elements and Articles are disclosed. Carbon nanotube growth catalyst is applied on to a surface of a substrate. The substrate is subjected to a chemical vapor deposition of a carbon-containing gas to grow a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes. Portions of the non-woven fabric are selectively removed according to a defined pattern to create the article. A non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes may be made by applying carbon nanotube growth catalyst on to a surface of a wafer substrate to create a dispersed monolayer of catalyst. The substrate is subjected to a chemical vapor deposition of a carbon-containing gas to grow a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes in contact and covering the surface of the wafer and in which the fabric is substantially uniform density.

12-04-2008

20090045473

Devices having horizontally-disposed nanofabric articles and methods of making the same - New devices having horizontally-disposed nanofabric articles and methods of making same are described. A discrete electro-mechanical device includes a structure having an electrically-conductive trace. A defined patch of nanotube fabric is disposed in spaced relation to the trace; and the defined patch of nanotube fabric is electromechanically deflectable between a first and second state. In the first state, the nanotube article is in spaced relation relative to the trace, and in the second state the nanotube article is in contact with the trace. A low resistance signal path is in electrical communication with the defined patch of nanofabric. Under certain embodiments, the structure includes a defined gap into which the electrically conductive trace is disposed. The defined gap has a defined width, and the defined patch of nanotube fabric spans the gap and has a longitudinal extent that is slightly longer than the defined width of the gap.

02-19-2009

20090051032

PATTERNED NANOSCOPIC ARTICLES AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME - Nanowire articles and methods of making the same are disclosed. A conductive article includes a plurality of inter-contacting nanowire segments that define a plurality of conductive pathways along the article. The nanowire segments may be semiconducting nanowires, metallic nanowires, nanotubes, single walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, or nanowires entangled with nanotubes. The various segments may have different lengths and may include segments having a length shorter than the length of the article. A strapping material may be positioned to contact a portion of the plurality of nanowire segments. The strapping material may be patterned to create the shape of a frame with an opening that exposes an area of the nanowire fabric. Such a strapping layer may also be used for making electrical contact to the nanowire fabric especially for electrical stitching to lower the overall resistance of the fabric.

02-26-2009

20090087630

CARBON NANOTUBE FILMS, LAYERS, FABRICS, RIBBONS, ELEMENTS AND ARTICLES - Carbon Nanotube Films, Layers, Fabrics, Ribbons, Elements and Articles are disclosed. To make various articles, certain embodiments provide a substrate. Preformed nanotubes are applied to a surface of the substrate to create a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes. Portions of the non-woven fabric are selectively removed according to a defined pattern to create the article. To make a nanofabric, a substrate is provided. Preformed nanotubes are applied to a surface of the substrate to create a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes wherein the non-woven fabric is substantially uniform density. The nanofabrics and articles have characteristics desirable for various electrical systems such as memory circuits and conductive traces and pads.

04-02-2009

20090091352

NANOTUBE-BASED SWITCHING ELEMENTS WITH MULTIPLE CONTROLS - Nanotube-based switching elements with multiple controls and circuits made from such. A switching element includes an input node, an output node, and a nanotube channel element having at least one electrically conductive nanotube. A control structure is disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to controllably form and unform an electrically conductive channel between said input node and said output node. The output node is constructed and arranged so that channel formation is substantially unaffected by the electrical state of the output node. The control structure includes a control electrode and a release electrode, disposed on opposite sides of the nanotube channel element. The control and release may be used to form a differential input, or if the device is constructed appropriately to operate the circuit in a non-volatile manner. The switching elements may be arranged into logic circuits and latches having differential inputs and/or non-volatile behavior.

04-09-2009

20090111282

METHODS OF USING THIN METAL LAYERS TO MAKE CARBON NANOTUBE FILMS, LAYERS, FABRICS, RIBBONS, ELEMENTS AND ARTICLES - Methods of using thin metal layers to make Carbon Nanotube Films, Layers, Fabrics, Ribbons, Elements and Articles are disclosed. Carbon nanotube growth catalyst is applied on to a surface of a substrate, including one or more thin layers of metal. The substrate is subjected to a chemical vapor deposition of a carbon-containing gas to grow a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes. Portions of the non-woven fabric are selectively removed according to a defined pattern to create the article. A non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes may be made by applying carbon nanotube growth catalyst on to a surface of a wafer substrate to create a dispersed monolayer of catalyst. The substrate is subjected to a chemical vapor deposition of a carbon-containing gas to grow a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes in contact and covering the surface of the wafer and in which the fabric is substantially uniform density.

04-30-2009

20090115305

TRIODES USING NANOFABRIC ARTICLES AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME - Vacuum microelectronic devices with carbon nanotube films, layers, ribbons and fabrics are provided. The present invention discloses microelectronic vacuum devices including triode structures that include three-terminals (an emitter, a grid and an anode), and also higher-order devices such as tetrodes and pentodes, all of which use carbon nanotubes to form various components of the devices. In certain embodiments, patterned portions of nanotube fabric may be used as grid/gate components, conductive traces, etc. Nanotube fabrics may be suspended or conformally disposed. In certain embodiments, methods for stiffening a nanotube fabric layer are used. Various methods for applying, selectively removing (e.g. etching), suspending, and stiffening vertically- and horizontally-disposed nanotube fabrics are disclosed, as are CMOS-compatible fabrication methods. In certain embodiments, nanotube fabric triodes provide high-speed, small-scale, low-power devices that can be employed in radiation-intensive applications.

METHOD OF MAKING AN APPLICATOR LIQUID FOR ELECTRONICS FABRICATION PROCESS - Certain spin-coatable liquids and application techniques are described, which can be used to form nanotube films or fabrics of controlled properties. A method of making an applicator liquid containing nanotubes for use in an electronics fabrication process includes characterizing an electronic fabrication process according to fabrication compatible solvents and allowable levels of metallic and particle impurities; providing nanotubes that satisfy the allowable impurities criteria for the electronics fabrication process; providing a solvent that meets the fabrication compatible solvents and allowable impurities criteria for the electronic fabrication process; and dispersing the nanotubes into the solvent at a concentration of at least one milligram of nanotubes per liter solvent to form an applicator liquid.

06-04-2009

20090173964

METHOD OF FORMING A CARBON NANOTUBE-BASED CONTACT TO SEMICONDUCTOR - Manufacturers encounter limitations in forming low resistance ohmic electrical contact to semiconductor material P-type Gallium Nitride (p-GaN), commonly used in photonic applications, such that the contact is highly transparent to the light emission of the device. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can address this problem due to their combined metallic and semiconducting characteristics in conjunction with the fact that a fabric of CNTs has high optical transparency. The physical structure of the contact scheme is broken down into three components, a) the GaN, b) an interface material and c) the metallic conductor. The role of the interface material is to make suitable contact to both the GaN and the metal so that the GaN, in turn, will make good electrical contact to the metallic conductor that interfaces the device to external circuitry. A method of fabricating contact to GaN using CNTs and metal while maintaining protection of the GaN surface is provided.

07-09-2009

20090271971

METHODS OF MAKING NANOTUBE-BASED SWITCHING ELEMENTS AND LOGIC CIRCUITS - Nanotube-based switching elements and logic circuits. Under one embodiment of the invention, a switching element includes an input node, an output node, a nanotube channel element having at least one electrically conductive nanotube, and a control electrode. The control electrode is disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to controllably form an electrically conductive channel between the input node and the output node. The channel at least includes said nanotube channel element. The output node is constructed and arranged so that channel formation is substantially unaffected by the electrical state of the output node. Under another embodiment of the invention, the control electrode is arranged in relation to the nanotube channel element to form said conductive channel by causing electromechanical deflection of said nanotube channel element. Under another embodiment of the invention, the output node includes an isolation structure disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element so that channel formation is substantially invariant from the state of the output node. Under another embodiment of the invention, the isolation structure includes electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the nanotube channel element and said electrodes produce substantially the same electric field. Under another embodiment of the invention, a Boolean logic circuit includes at least one input terminal and an output terminal, and a network of nanotube switching elements electrically disposed between said at least one input terminal and said output terminal. The network of nanotube switching elements effectuates a Boolean function transformation of Boolean signals on said at least one input terminal. The Boolean function transformation includes a Boolean inversion within the function, such as a NOT or NOR function.

11-05-2009

20090283745

METHODS OF MAKING CARBON NANOTUBE FILMS, LAYERS, FABRICS, RIBBONS, ELEMENTS AND ARTICLES - Methods of making carbon nanotube films, layers, fabrics, ribbons, elements and articles are disclosed. Carbon nanotube growth catalyst is applied on to a surface of a substrate. The substrate is subjected to a chemical vapor deposition of a carbon-containing gas to grow a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes. Portions of the non-woven fabric are selectively removed according to a defined pattern to create the article. A non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes may be made by applying carbon nanotube growth catalyst on to a surface of a wafer substrate to create a dispersed monolayer of catalyst. The substrate is subjected to a chemical vapor deposition of a carbon-containing gas to grow a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes in contact and covering the surface of the wafer and in which the fabric is substantially uniform density.

11-19-2009

20090296481

EEPROMS USING CARBON NANOTUBES FOR CELL STORAGE - An electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) cell includes cell selection circuitry and a storage cell for storing the informational state of the cell. The storage cell is an electro-mechanical data retention cell in which the physical positional state of a storage cell element represents the informational state of the cell. The storage cell element is a carbon nanotube switching element. The storage is writable with supply voltages used by said cell selection circuitry. The storage is writable and readable via said selection circuitry with write times and read times being within an order of magnitude. The write times and read times are substantially the same. The storage has no charge storage or no charge trapping.

12-03-2009

20090310268

NANOTUBE ESD PROTECTIVE DEVICES AND CORRESPONDING NONVOLATILE AND VOLATILE NANOTUBE SWITCHES - Nanotube ESD protective devices and corresponding nonvolatile and volatile nanotube switches. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for protecting a protected circuit is coupled to an input pad. The ESD circuit includes a nanotube switch electrically having a control. The switch is coupled to the protected circuit and to a discharge path. The nanotube switch is controllable, in response to electrical stimulation of the control, between a de-activated state and an activated state. The activated state creates a current path so that a signal on the input pad flows to the discharge path to cause the signal at the input pad to remain within a predefined operable range for the protected circuit. The nanotube switch, the input pad, and the protected circuit may be on a semiconductor chip. The nanotube switch may be on a chip carrier. The deactivated and activated states may be volatile or non-volatile depending on the embodiment. The ESD circuit may be repeatedly programmed between the activated and deactivated states so as to repeatedly activate and deactivate ESD protection of the protected circuit. The nanotube switch provides protection based on the magnitude of the signal on the input pad.

12-17-2009

20090315011

NANOTUBE DEVICE STRUCTURE AND METHODS OF FABRICATION - Nanotube device structures and methods of fabrication. A method of making a nanotube switching element includes forming a first structure having at a first output electrode; forming second structure having a second output electrode; forming a conductive article having at least one nanotube, the article having first and second ends; positioning the conductive article between said first and second structures such that the first structure clamps the first and second ends of the article to the second structure, and such that the first and second output electrodes are opposite each other with the article positioned therebetween; providing at least one signal electrode in electrical communication with the conductive article; and providing at least one control electrode in spaced relation to the conductive article such that the control electrode may control the conductive article to form a conductive pathway between the signal electrode and the first output electrode.

12-24-2009

20100012927

DEVICES HAVING VERTICALLY-DISPOSED NANOFABRIC ARTICLES AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME - Electro-mechanical switches and memory cells using vertically-oriented nanofabric articles and methods of making the same. Under one aspect, a nanotube device includes a substantially horizontal substrate having a vertically oriented feature; and a nanotube film substantially conforming to a horizontal feature of the substrate and also to at least the vertically oriented feature. Under another aspect, an electromechanical device includes a structure having a major horizontal surface and a channel formed therein, the channel having first and second wall electrodes defining at least a portion of first and second vertical walls of the channel; first and second nanotube articles vertically suspended in the channel and in spaced relation to a corresponding first and second wall electrode, and electromechanically deflectable in a horizontal direction toward or away from the corresponding first and second wall electrode in response to electrical stimulation.

01-21-2010

20100022045

SENSOR PLATFORM USING A NON-HORIZONTALLY ORIENTED NANOTUBE ELEMENT - Sensor platforms and methods of making them are described. A platform having a non-horizontally oriented sensor element comprising one or more nanostructures such as nanotubes is described. Under certain embodiments, a sensor element has or is made to have an affinity for an analyte. Under certain embodiments, such a sensor element comprises one or more pristine nanotubes. Under certain embodiments, the sensor element comprises derivatized or functionalized nanotubes. Under certain embodiments, a sensor is made by providing a support structure; providing one or more nanotubes on the structure to provide material for a sensor element; and providing circuitry to electrically sense the sensor element's electrical characterization. Under certain embodiments, the sensor element comprises pre-derivatized or pre-functionalized nanotubes. Under other embodiments, sensor material is derivatized or functionalized after provision on the structure or after patterning. Under certain embodiments, a large-scale array of sensor platforms includes a plurality of sensor elements.

01-28-2010

20100025659

NON-VOLATILE ELECTROMECHANICAL FIELD EFFECT DEVICES AND CIRCUITS USING SAME AND METHODS OF FORMING SAME - Under one aspect, a field effect device includes a gate, a source, and a drain, with a conductive channel between the source and the drain; and a nanotube switch having a corresponding control terminal, said nanotube switch being positioned to control electrical conduction through said conductive channel. Under another aspect, a field effect device includes a gate having a corresponding gate terminal; a source having a corresponding source terminal; a drain having a corresponding drain terminal; a control terminal; and a nanotube switching element positioned between one of the gate, source, and drain and its corresponding terminal and switchable, in response to electrical stimuli at the control terminal and at least one of the gate, source, and drain terminals, between a first non-volatile state that enables current flow between the source and the drain and a second non-volatile state that disables current flow between the source and the drain.

NANOTUBE-BASED SWITCHING ELEMENTS WITH MULTIPLE CONTROLS AND LOGIC CIRCUITS HAVING SAID ELEMENTS - Boolean logic circuits comprising nanotube-based switching elements with multiple controls. The Boolean logic circuits include input and output terminals and a network of nanotube switching elements electrically disposed between said at least one input terminal and said output terminal. Each switching element includes an input node, an output node, and a nanotube channel element having at least one electrically conductive nanotube. A control structure is disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to controllably form and unform an electrically conductive channel along the nanotube channel element. At least one nanotube switching element non-volatilely retains an informational state and at least one nanotube switching elements volatilely retains an informational state. The network of nanotube switching elements effectuates a Boolean function transformation of Boolean signals on said at least one input terminal. Dual rail cascode logic circuits may also be constructed from the nanotube switching elements.

Method of Forming a Carbon Nanotube-Based Contact to Semiconductor - Manufacturers encounter limitations in forming low resistance ohmic electrical contact to semiconductor material P-type Gallium Nitride (p-GaN), commonly used in photonic applications, such that the contact is highly transparent to the light emission of the device. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can address this problem due to their combined metallic and semiconducting characteristics in conjunction with the fact that a fabric of CNTs has high optical transparency. The physical structure of the contact scheme is broken down into three components, a) the GaN, b) an interface material and c) the metallic conductor. The role of the interface material is to make suitable contact to both the GaN and the metal so that the GaN, in turn, will make good electrical contact to the metallic conductor that interfaces the device to external circuitry. A method of fabricating contact to GaN using CNTs and metal while maintaining protection of the GaN surface is provided.

06-17-2010

20100267205

CARBON NANOTUBES FOR THE SELECTIVE TRANSFER OF HEAT FROM ELECTRONICS - Under one aspect, a method of cooling a circuit element includes providing a thermal reservoir having a temperature lower than an operating temperature of the circuit element; and providing a nanotube article in thermal contact with the circuit element and with the reservoir, the nanotube article including a non-woven fabric of nanotubes in contact with other nanotubes to define a plurality of thermal pathways along the article, the nanotube article having a nanotube density and a shape selected such that the nanotube article is capable of transferring heat from the circuit element to the thermal reservoir.

10-21-2010

20100283528

NANOTUBE-ON-GATE FET STRUCTURES AND APPLICATIONS - Under one aspect, non-volatile transistor device includes a source and drain with a channel in between; a gate structure made of a semiconductive or conductive material disposed over an insulator over the channel; a control gate made of a semiconductive or conductive material; and an electromechanically-deflectable nanotube switching element in fixed contact with one of the gate structure and the control gate structure and is not in fixed contact with the other of the gate structure and the control gate structure. The device has a network of inherent capacitances, including an inherent capacitance of an undeflected nanotube switching element in relation to the gate structure. The network is such that the nanotube switching element is deflectable into contact with the other of the gate structure and the control gate structure in response to signals being applied to the control gate and one of the source region and drain region.

11-11-2010

20100327247

METHOD AND SYSTEM OF USING NANOTUBE FABRICS AS JOULE HEATING ELEMENTS FOR MEMORIES AND OTHER APPLICATIONS - Methods and systems of using nanotube elements as joule heating elements for memories and other applications. Under one aspect, a method includes providing an electrical stimulus, regulated by a drive circuit, through a nanotube element in order to heat an adjacent article. Further, a detection circuit electrically gauges the state of the article. The article heated by the nanotube element is, in preferred embodiments, a phase changing material, hi memory applications, the invention may be used as a small-scale CRAM capable of employing small amounts of current to induce rapid, large temperature changes in a chalcogenide material. Under various embodiments of the disclosed invention, the nanotube element is composed of a non-woven nanotube fabric which is either suspended from supports and positioned adjacent to the phase change material or is disposed on a substrate and in direct contact with the phase change material. A plurality of designs using various geometric orientations of nanotube fabrics, phase change materials, and drive and detection circuitry is disclosed. Additionally, methods of fabricating nanotube heat emitters are disclosed.

12-30-2010

20110025577

MICROSTRIP ANTENNA ELEMENTS AND ARRAYS COMPRISING A SHAPED NANOTUBE FABRIC LAYER AND INTEGRATED TWO TERMINAL NANOTUBE SELECT DEVICES - A nanotube based microstrip antenna element is provided along with arrays of same. The nanotube based microstrip antenna element comprises a dielectric substrate layer sandwiched between a ground plane layer and a conductive nanotube layer, the conductive nanotube layer shaped to form a radiating structure. In more advanced embodiments, the nanotube based microstrip antenna element further includes an integrated two terminal nanotube switch device such as to provide a selectability function to such microstrip antenna elements and reconfigurable arrays of same. Anisotropic nanotube fabric layers are also used to provide substantially transparent microstrip antenna structures which can be deposited over display screens and the like.

02-03-2011

20110057717

TWO-TERMINAL NANOTUBE DEVICES INCLUDING A NANOTUBE BRIDGE AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME - Nanotube switching devices having nanotube bridges are disclosed. Two-terminal nanotube switches include conductive terminals extending up from a substrate and defining a void in the substrate. Nantoube articles are suspended over the void or form a bottom surface of a void. The nanotube articles are arranged to permanently contact at least a portion of the conductive terminals. An electrical stimulus circuit in communication with the conductive terminals is used to generate and apply selected waveforms to induce a change in resistance of the device between relatively high and low resistance values. Relatively high and relatively low resistance values correspond to states of the device. A single conductive terminal and a interconnect line may be used. The nanotube article may comprise a patterned region of nanotube fabric, having an active region with a relatively high or relatively low resistance value. Methods of making each device are disclosed.

03-10-2011

20110062993

NANOTUBE-BASED SWITCHING ELEMENTS AND LOGIC CIRCUITS - Nanotube-based switching elements and logic circuits are disclosed. Under one embodiment of the invention, a Boolean logic circuit includes at least one input terminal and an output terminal, and a network of nanotube switching elements electrically disposed between said at least one input terminal and said output terminal. The network of nanotube switching elements effectuates a Boolean function transformation of Boolean signals on said at least one input terminal. The Boolean function transformation includes a Boolean inversion within the function, such as a NOT or NOR function.

03-17-2011

20110083319

METHODS OF MAKING NANOTUBE SWITCHES - Nanotube ESD protective devices and corresponding nonvolatile and volatile nanotube switches. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for protecting a protected circuit is coupled to an input pad. The ESD circuit includes a nanotube switch electrically having a control. The switch is coupled to the protected circuit and to a discharge path. The nanotube switch is controllable, in response to electrical stimulation of the control, between a de-activated state and an activated state. The activated state creates a current path so that a signal on the input pad flows to the discharge path to cause the signal at the input pad to remain within a predefined operable range for the protected circuit. The nanotube switch, the input pad, and the protected circuit may be on a semiconductor chip. The nanotube switch may be on a chip carrier. The deactivated and activated states may be volatile or non-volatile depending on the embodiment. The ESD circuit may be repeatedly programmed between the activated and deactivated states so as to repeatedly activate and deactivate ESD protection of the protected circuit. The nanotube switch provides protection based on the magnitude of the signal on the input pad.

04-14-2011

20110176359

CARBON NANOTUBE-BASED NEURAL NETWORKS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING SAME - Physical neural networks based nanotechnology include dendrite circuits that comprise non-volatile nanotube switches. A first terminal of the non-volatile nanotube switches is able to receive an electrical signal and a second terminal of the non-volatile nanotube switches is coupled to a common node that sums any electrical signals at the first terminals of the nanotube switches. The neural networks further includes transfer circuits to propagate the electrical signal, synapse circuits, and axon circuits.

07-21-2011

20110211313

CARBON NANOTUBES FOR THE SELECTIVE TRANSFER OF HEAT FROM ELECTRONICS - Under one aspect, a method of cooling a circuit element includes providing a thermal reservoir having a temperature lower than an operating temperature of the circuit element; and providing a nanotube article in thermal contact with the circuit element and with the reservoir, the nanotube article including a non-woven fabric of nanotubes in contact with other nanotubes to define a plurality of thermal pathways along the article, the nanotube article having a nanotube density and a shape selected such that the nanotube article is capable of transferring heat from the circuit element to the thermal reservoir.

09-01-2011

20120181621

Field effect devices controlled via a nanotube switching element - Field effect devices having a drain controlled via a nanotube switching element. Under one embodiment, a field effect device includes a source region and a drain region of a first semiconductor type and a channel region disposed therebetween of a second semiconductor type. The source region is connected to a corresponding terminal. A gate structure is disposed over the channel region and connected to a corresponding terminal. A nanotube switching element is responsive to a first control terminal and a second control terminal and is electrically positioned in series between the drain region and a terminal corresponding to the drain region. The nanotube switching element is electromechanically operable to one of an open and closed state to thereby open or close an electrical communication path between the drain region and its corresponding terminal. When the nanotube switching element is in the closed state, the channel conductivity and operation of the device is responsive to electrical stimulus at the terminals corresponding to the source and drain regions and the gate structure.

07-19-2012

20120301360

NANOSTRUCTURED AEROGEL-THERMOELECTRIC DEVICE, MAKING AND USING THE SAME - Devices used in conjunction with detecting analytes and methods of their manufacture are disclosed. A pre-concentrator device includes a thermoelectric material and an aerogel which includes a nanostructured material disposed on, and in thermal communication with, the thermoelectric material. Such a pre-concentrator is part of a detection system including a sensor. The detection system is used in a method for detecting analytes.

11-29-2012

20130009109

Spin-Coatable Liquid for Formation of High Purity Nanotube Films - Certain spin-coatable liquids and application techniques are described, which can be used to form nanotube films or fabrics of controlled properties. A spin-coatable liquid for formation of a nanotube film includes a liquid medium containing a controlled concentration of purified nanotubes, wherein the controlled concentration is sufficient to form a nanotube fabric or film of preselected density and uniformity, and wherein the spin-coatable liquid comprises less than 1×10